He replaces Richard Driscoll, who is leaving the charity after 21 years at the helm to become a voluntary sector consultant.

Crohn’s and Colitis UK is a charity that aims to improve the lives of people affected by inflammatory bowel disease, of which the most common forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. About 250,000 people across the UK are affected by the two conditions.

Barker joins Crohn’s and Colitis UK on 18 February, as the charity places heavy emphasis on communicating with and supporting younger members of society. The charity claims 10,000 of the 18,000 people diagnosed with the two conditions in the UK this year will be in their late teens or twenties.